The Spar KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge is set to kick off in grand style as the Maris Stella school welcomes teams for the Durban Central Regional on Saturday March 2.
A notable change for this regional edition is the shift to a new venue – the smart blue astro turf at Durban High School.
Maris Stella will play host to six schools in a highly anticipated round robin tournament, featuring Durban Girls’ College, Durban Girls’ High School, Inanda Seminary, INK Schools (consisting of players from Inanda and KwaMashu), Port Natal High School, and St Henry’s Marist College.
The action-packed day will see a total of 21 round robin games, with the defending champions, Durban Girls’ College, stepping onto the field first against Inanda Seminary. Each game will run for 18 minutes, and the scoring system is designed to keep the competition fierce – 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw with goals, 1 point for a goal-less draw, and zero points for a loss.
In a prelude to the main event, Durban Girls’ College will face Durban Girls’ High School in the concluding round robin game. This clash holds particular significance, as the two teams delivered an action-packed gold medal game last year. Durban Girls’ College stands out as the only team in the KZN tournament boasting a perfect record in the regionals, having advanced to the Grand Finals consistently since the tournament’s inception.
The stakes are high as the top teams from all regionals will converge for the Grand Finals in July at St Mary’s D.S.G., promising a two-day spectacle of intense competition.
Adding an extra layer of excitement, scouts from eta College will be present at each regional event, on the lookout for potential players to offer bursaries to their Durban Campus.
